Factories Act 1961

23 Hoists and lifts used for carrying persons

(1) The following additional requirements shall apply to hoists and lifts used for carrying persons, whether together with goods or otherwise:—

(a) efficient automatic devices shall be provided and maintained to prevent the cage or platform overrunning;

(b) every cage shall on each side from which access is afforded to a landing be fitted with a gate, and in connection with every such gate efficient devices shall be provided to secure that, when persons or goods are in the cage, the cage cannot be raised or lowered unless the gate is closed, and will come to rest when the gate is opened.

(2) In the case of a hoist or lift constructed or reconstructed before the thirtieth day of July, nineteen hundred and thirty-seven, in connection with which it is not reasonably practicable to provide such devices as are mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section it shall be sufficient if—

(a) such arrangements are provided as will secure the objects of that paragraph so far as is reasonably practicable ; and

(b) the gate is kept closed and fastened except when the cage is at rest or empty.

(3) In the case of a hoist or lift used as mentioned in subsection (1) of this section which was constructed or reconstructed after the twenty-ninth day of July, nineteen hundred and thirty-seven, where the platform or cage is suspended by rope or chain, there shall be at least two ropes or chains separately connected with the platform or cage, each rope or chain and its attachments being capable of carrying the whole weight of the platform or cage and its maximum working load, and efficient devices shall be provided and maintained which will support the platform or cage with its maximum working load in the event of a breakage of the ropes or chains or any of their attachments.